Emergency vehicle approach warning method and system

• US 20040263355A1
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Carroll, Dennis J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,967,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

Under the present invention, a warning unit having a light source (e.g., a laser) is mounted on an emergency vehicle. The light source first emits a low intensity light beam (e.g., an infrared light beam) to scan an area in front of the emergency vehicle. The scan is used to detect one or more objects having a height to width ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold. Specifically, the scan is used to detect one or more tall, narrow objects such as poles, sign posts, etc., while ignoring other objects such as people, animals, etc. Once any applicable objects are detected, a second, higher intensity light beam is emitted to illuminate the detected objects with a predetermined indicia. The predetermined indicia can be observed by other motorists and indicates to them a direction of origin of the emergency vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for providing an emergency vehicle approach warning, comprising:

scanning an area using a first light beam;

detecting at least one object in the scanned area having a height to width ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

illuminating the at least one object with a predetermined indicia using a second light beam.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning, detecting and illuminating steps are continuously repeated at a frequency of at least approximately 12 Hz.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one object comprises at least one pole.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the area is scanned in front of an emergency vehicle, and wherein the predetermined indicia indicates a direction of origin of the emergency vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein an appearance of the predetermined indicia changes as the emergency vehicle approaches the set of objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light beam has an intensity that is lower than the intensity of the second light beam.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are laser beams.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are emitted using electromagnetic deflections from a light source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises:

receiving a return beam; and

processing the return beam to detect at least one object having a height to width ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold.

10. A method for providing an emergency vehicle approach warning, comprising:

scanning an area in front of an emergency vehicle using a first light beam having a first intensity;

detecting at least one object in the scanned area having a height to width ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

illuminating the at least one object with a predetermined indicia using a second light beam having a second intensity, wherein the predetermined indicia indicates a direction of origin of the emergency vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the scanning, detecting and illuminating steps are continuously repeated at a frequency of at least approximately 12 Hz.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first intensity is lower than the second intensity.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are laser beams.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are emitted using electromagnetic deflections from a light source.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the light source is mounted on the emergency vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein an appearance of the predetermined indicia changes as the emergency vehicle approaches the at least one object.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting step comprises:

receiving a return beam in response to the first light beam; and

processing the return beam to detect at least one object in the scanned area having a height to width ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold

18. An emergency vehicle approach warning system, comprising a light emitter for emitting a first light beam for scanning an area to detect at least one object having a height to width ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold, wherein the light emitter further emits a second light beam to illuminate the at least one object with a predetermined indicia.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the area is scanned in front of an emergency vehicle, and wherein the predetermined indicia indicates a direction of origin of the emergency vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the light emitter is contained within a warning unit that is mounted on the emergency vehicle.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined indicia changes in appearance as the emergency vehicle approaches the set of objects

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising image processing logic for processing a return beam received in response to the first light beam to detect the at least one object.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the first light beam has an intensity that is lower than the intensity of the second light beam.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the light source continuously alternates emission of the first light beam and the second light beam at a frequency of at least approximately 12 Hz.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are emitted from the light source using electromagnetic deflection.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are laser beams.